Stem Cell Bank: Their uses and types

Stem cells are a great promise to sustain the health risks in future. Recent studies proved them to be capable to transform into even desired organs like eyes and liver by some Japanese scientists.

On injection of stem cells, they were shown to replace the dead tissue in the heart muscles in the patients with myocardial infarction and there by rescued from heart failures. Hence, these stem cells seem to be of vital source of health in future.

stem cell storage can help not only the concerned family from whose clan cord blood has been collected but also to others in time of emergency.

stem cell banks which have required facilities for the purpose. These stem cell banks are to be licensed and approved by the government in that particular country for the purpose.

Stem cell banks are basically two types based on the intention of storage.

Type of stem cell banks:

There are broadly two types of stem cell banks.

1. Public stem cell bank.

2. Private stem cell bank.

Public stem cell bank:

As the name indicates these banks are similar to routine blood banks which aim to collect and store umbilical cord blood free of cost. They procure umbilical cord blood from newly born babies after the consent of the baby’s mother and its family. The cord blood collected in this manner is given to the people in emergency requirement after checking for compatibility issues. But people may not be readily willing to give cord blood of their babies to these banks as they may not find them for future use.

They aim to store cord the cord blood from the donors for public use in future.

Private stem cell bank:

These are stem cell banks which are corporate based and aimed to provide storage for stem cells for individuals at reasonable charges. Here the people who are desirous to store their babies umbilical cord blood can store it for future needs of the baby or the family members itself. The advantage is that, the incompatibility is low or even rare and also the baby and family member health risk are secured to certain extent. But using the stem cells of baby to the same person in future has a set back that, these stem cells also develop the existing disease after transplant. So physicians prefer to use other’s stem cells for transplant as they are not easily susceptible to existing disease.